Anton Du Beke Announces Christmas Single Amid Fears of 'Strictly' Judging Panel Exodus
The 'Strictly Come Dancing' judge is releasing a new festive song, coinciding with reports that BBC bosses are concerned about the potential departure of all four judges.
Anton Du Beke is trading the dancefloor for a microphone with the announcement of his new Christmas single, "Dance My Way To Christmas," set for release on November 6.
The "Strictly Come Dancing" judge, 60, shared the news on Instagram, appearing in a festive jumper in front of a Christmas tree. This marks his return to music following his 2017 debut album, "From The Top."
Du Beke's musical venture arrives amid reports of unease among BBC executives regarding the future of the show's judging panel. The contracts for judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Du Beke himself are all due to conclude at the end of the current season, prompting concerns that potential disagreements during contract renegotiations could lead to multiple departures.
Sources suggest that Shirley Ballas, 66, may be considering leaving the show after a decade to spend more time with her son and grandchildren in the United States, where he works as a professional dancer on "Dancing With The Stars." Insiders told the Daily Mail's Katie Hind that the continuity provided by the judges was a key factor for BBC bosses this year, but acknowledged that any of them could become free agents if contract terms are not met.
These concerns are compounded by viewer frustration over the show's scoring in recent weeks. Following "Icons Week" in week four, where couples performed songs by musical artists, fans took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to criticize what they described as "crazy" and inconsistent scoring. Many viewers noted the close ties on the leaderboard and expressed fears of a surprising dance-off.
Comments from viewers included sentiments like "leaderboard in shambles this is going to be a mess," "The scoring is allllll over the shop tonight," and "I have never been more confused by the scoring than tonight." These reactions highlight a perceived lack of clarity and consistency in how celebrity performances are being evaluated, adding another layer of uncertainty for the show's upcoming episodes.